“Take a deep breath, sweetheart,” Kieran whispered in my ear, though I could sense the tension in his voice.
We were being escorted to the second floor where the meeting would take place. The entire floor was heavily guarded and much more spacious and open than the others.
“Do not speak unless you’re called on,” a tan-skinned woman in a pencil skirt instructed us. She walked effortlessly in her heels, swaying her hips like a runway model. “If they wish for you to speak, they’ll call on you. That’s your chance. You can also call as many witnesses as you please, so those you came with are free to speak on your behalf.”
Kieran and I had been briefed as much as possible, but nothing could prepare us for the uncertainty ahead. Apart from Maverick Billford, we had no idea what the other High Table members wanted.
I adjusted my dress, grimacing as the rigid fabric rubbed against my bare leg. The heels I wore clicked and clacked through the hallway, miserable to walk in and horribly loud. My feet already ached, and we hadn’t even started.
“These shoes are going to be the death of me, if the High Table doesn’t kill me first,” I muttered under my breath, glancing at the silent bodyguards escorting us.
Kieran’s arm was the only thing keeping me from stumbling. I had never worn heels before, and while my legs looked incredible, walking in them was a nightmare.
We entered through a set of wooden doors into a massive room that resembled a courtroom with some alterations. The five High Table members sat at the head of the room, flanked by guards. Scattered throughout the room were families and Alphas from notable packs, their personal insignias on bronze plaques marking their sections. There were so many witnesses, openly talking and speaking across the narrow walkways leading to the center of the room.
As our scent filled the room and people noticed us, everyone fell silent. Kieran’s hand pressed against my back as I took a sharp breath. The emotions in the room lashed out at me, flashing through my mind and body, disorienting me. My skin crawled from the multitude of emotions-fear, hatred, curiosity. Curiosity could be a good thing.
Kieran glanced down at me, conveying what he could with his eyes. We couldn’t speak freely here, and this wasn’t the time for public displays of affection. I kept my face neutral, though I wanted to scream. The ugly emotions battered me, and I had to constantly shove them back to focus.
“Now entering, Alpha Kieran Ashford and his mate, Sophia,” announced a man standing by the main doors. The room fell completely silent.
Kieran and I were escorted to our section near the center of the room. I felt all eyes on me, like I was an animal in a cage. In our section sat Kieran’s parents, Kat, Sebastian, and Williams. Each of them met my eyes as we took our seats.
Silence engulfed the room as Maverick Billford stood from his seat at the very head of the room. His navy suit matched his stormy eyes, capturing the blue within their depths. He was beautiful in a smooth, shiny way, free of any blemish that might reveal him as human. His son, Zack Billford, sat towards the left-hand side in a space of his own, but Maverick did not acknowledge him as he took the room’s attention.
“It’s been hundreds of years since we’ve had a gathering as large as this. There has not been a need for a discussion this urgent in so very long,” Maverick greeted the room, sweeping his arm wide. “As it stands, the longevity of our species has been the High Table’s priority. Our kind has been flourishing for the last fifty years in ways we haven’t before. No matter the results of these meetings, we are here to protect our kind and ensure its success.”
His voice was rich and smooth, perfectly balanced as it reached all corners of the room. Even his emotions were calm and balanced, like perfectly smooth waters. There was nothing about this man that revealed a monster within.
Murmurs rippled through the room, and I found myself tuned into every emotion around me. To my right was a small group of people in their own section-an Alpha and Luna with a guard, watching with calm expressions. Their hair was golden, and their eyes a rich shade of caramel. They were both tanned, indicating they lived somewhere warm and bright. I could feel the underlying tension in their emotions, the distaste whenever Maverick Billford spoke. I realized my abilities could be used in ways I hadn’t anticipated. I made a mental note of them, perhaps they might be persuaded to change sides.
“Let the meeting commence,” Maverick commanded, taking a seat once more.
“I call Ken Hilton to the stand,” Damion Baron spoke first, much to my surprise. He eyed me from where he sat, his grey eyes calculating and interested. He could probably read the surprise on my face. I had no idea who Ken Hilton was or what he had to do with me.
Ken Hilton emerged from a section across the room, a typical werewolf man-muscular and large, even with his greying hair and patchy beard. He walked towards the center of the room and addressed the High Table on a matter that involved my life.
The pieces clicked together when Damion Baron spoke again.
“You were a witness to the rogue attack on May 15th, correct?” Damion asked, leaning forward.
“Yes, I was a witness to that attack, fought in it myself. Wouldn’t be here if I weren’t worried about my Alpha’s. They’re not like their father. This girl, she’s bringing some heavy stuff to my pack, stuff we’re not equipped for,” he grunted, clearing his throat.
Kieran stiffened beside me, and it took me a moment to recognize this man’s face. I had seen him in town a few times, usually emerging from the hardware store, always covered in grease. I had never given him much thought until now.
A sharp pain stung my chest at the thought of a pack member speaking against me, but I steeled myself. Kieran was fuming, but I knew he could keep it together for this meeting. Feeling someone’s emotions makes it hard to be angry, because I understand the reasoning behind those decisions. Ken was concerned, worried for the twins he had watched grow up. No matter how much it hurt, he thought he was doing the right thing.
“Would you explain the details of that event? More specifically, when Ms. Sophia found herself in battle,” Damion clarified, all but ignoring what Ken had said.
“Yes-things were going to shit, there were too many of ’em. Biggest battle I’ve seen in my time, but that’s not saying much. Alpha Ethan was wounded, nothing serious. He would’ve recovered if she hadn’t trounced onto the battlefield. The girl nearly got both our Alphas killed. They were too worried about her to concentrate on the rogues.” He grunted, glancing over towards Kieran. He paled significantly but still managed to turn and continue. “She got overwhelmed, used that power of hers. She started howling, nearly split my ears. All them rogues started actin’ strange, fell to the ground like they were in pain. They were writhin’ and screamin’. Didn’t stop until she quit her howling and collapsed.”
“Mm, yes.” Damion nodded thoughtfully. “That will be all, Mr. Hilton. I would like Ms. Sophia to come to the stand.”
My heart dropped into my stomach, and I instinctively tensed beside Kieran. Every instinct I had was telling me not to stand at the center of the room, that it was much too close to Maverick Billford and his son. It was telling me that though they were the worst, there were other monsters in this room. Kieran squeezed my hand, and I used his touch to force my limbs to move. I walked rather stiffly to the stand, trying not to shiver when all of those eyes were placed on my shoulders.
Maverick Billford regarded me with interest, an almost familiar smile on his face. Arnold Fox smirked, looking me up and down like some kind of frat boy. Damion Baron had that calculating look on his face, as though he were mentally dissecting me. Carlos Caddel had absolutely nothing on his face, no trace of interest or emotion. He was leaned back in his seat, clad in leather pants and a vest. He was the most unconventional of the bunch. I could feel the hostility that radiated from Griffin Allard. Pure disgust and fury whenever he sneered my way.
“Ms. Sophia, can you confirm Ken Hilton’s accounts of the rogue attack on your mate’s pack?” Damion Baron asked in his smooth voice, slicking back his wheat-colored hair. “Did you use your abilities to harm those rogues?”
“Ken Hilton’s account of the battle was correct, and yes, I did use my abilities on the rogues,” I nodded firmly, forcing my voice to remain steady. It was hard, speaking this loud without faltering, but I managed. I couldn’t help but add this last bit, forcing a bit of sweetness into my voice. “I could feel my mate’s pain, and I ran to defend. As I’m sure you can tell, their pack is mine, just as much as my two are theirs.”
I left out the part where I had absolutely no clue what I was doing, and that the power had exploded from me without any rhyme or reason. It had been pure luck and rage that directed my power onto the rogues.
“So, it seems she has some semblance of control over her abilities, no matter how slim,” Damion mused.
“It proves she can be taught, but to what extent?” Arnold Fox asked, surprising me a bit. “There is no one to teach the young wolf.”
Arnold Fox was easily around thirty-five and was currently the oldest unmated male. He was handsome in a woodsy, rugged way. There were some light lines on his face, but they only added to his looks. His hair was the color of rust, thick and full on his head. His smile was one of sweet poison, expectant and alluring.
“Many white wolves come into their abilities naturally. If she already has this shred of control, more will come in time.” Damion flashed Arnold a disapproving look and continued.
“Maybe it was a fluke,” Griffin Allard cut in with an oily smile. If I could’ve guessed what a psychopath felt like, it would’ve been this particular High Table member. Griffin and Maverick were two sides of the same coin. Maverick was charm and smile; Griffin was blood and vengeance. “Maybe she has no idea what she’s doing. How can we trust her power won’t just emerge again?”
“Despite the understandable concerns of Alpha Griffin, I do believe in the preservation of life and extraordinary circumstances,” Maverick Billford chimed in, sounding as though he were actually on my side. If I didn’t know how he was, I would’ve fully believed him. He seemed so genuine and sincere as he smiled down on me. “This ability has not been seen in thousands of years. Should we not discover what Ms. Sophia’s purpose is in this world? How might she better our species and preserve our longevity?”
“You wish for her to work for the High Table?” Arnold Fox blinked in surprise, which soon morphed into a coy smile. “I wouldn’t particularly mind that. Her development would be under our supervision, as well as at our disposal.”
“I’m not some toy you can pass around. My power isn’t at everyone’s disposal,” I blurted without absolutely any regard. I could feel Kieran’s surprise, but was shocked at the perverse joy that hid beneath. He was enjoying how I defended myself, how I snarled at these self-absorbed men. I wouldn’t make myself small and docile for them.